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M Schroll

Publications and source records attributed to M Schroll.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

[Physical fitness of Danish men and women aged 50 to 80 years].

Maximal power in sustained work in originally randomly selected men and women, born in 1914, was studied five times between the ages of 50 and 80 years in a longitudinal design. Of the originally 514 men and 461 women in 1964 living in the Western suburbs of Copenhagen, 23 men and 18 women performed a bicycle test at age 50, 60, 70, 75 and 80. The mean annual decline in body mass adjusted maximal power in sustained work (W/kg) was 1.43% in the 18 men and 1.64% in the 23 women. Based on "cross-sectional" comparisons of all subjects tested at any age, the mean annual decline in men was 1.56%; in women the corresponding figure was 1.80%. When the results of the "longitudinal" and "cross-sectional" analyses were compared with each other, a rather similar picture of the age-related decline in maximal power was obtained, especially in women. In the longitudinal data only moderate (women) or zero (men) correlations were observed between the submaximal test results at the ages of 50 and 60 years and the maximal test results at higher ages. The physical work load at the age of 50 years had no significant correlation with maximal power at that age or thereafter. There were only minor changes in mean body height, body mass and BMI during the follow-up.

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PubMed1997

"RAI"--an international system for assessment of nursing home residents.

The Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) is described. The RAI consists of three basic components: 1) the Minimum Data Set (MDS) is a collection of items covering all the areas one would expect when assessing the needs of elderly people and developing a care plan, 2) the Resident Assessment Protocols are a series of protocols which guide the assessor through the best practice of care planning for the common problems faced by the elderly and 3) the Resource Utilization Groups is a classification system based on MDS to predict resource use at the level of the individual resident. The goal of RAI is to improve the quality of care. It also enables national and international comparisons between long term care residents. RAI was used at 65 nursing homes in Copenhagen in 1992-93 and 3451 residents were examined. The reproducibility and validity of the instrument was tested and found to be good. Results from the use of RAI in Denmark is presented. We conclude that RAI is useful in assessing residents at nursing homes, because the collected data triggers actions that improve the quality of care.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1997

Apolipoprotein(a) isoforms and coronary heart disease in men: a nested case-control study.

The objective of the present study was to examine the possible associations between low molecular weight (LMW) apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)) isoforms (F,B,S1,S2) and coronary heart disease (CHD). We conducted a nested case-control (prospective) study of five cohorts of white men: The 1936 cohort (baseline 1976, n = 548) and four cohorts from MONICA I born in 1923 (n = 463), 1933 (n = 491), 1943 (n = 504) and 1953 (n = 448) studied at baseline in 1983. At follow up in 1991, 52 subjects had developed a first myocardial infarction and 22 had been hospitalized with angina pectoris. Plasma samples obtained at baseline were stored frozen until 1993-94, when case samples (n = 74) were analyzed together with samples from matched (disease free) controls (n = 190). In a statistical model (conditional logistic regression) including all age groups, cholesterol (or apo B) level (P < 0.01), systolic blood pressure (P = 0.05) and smoking (P = 0.02) predicted CHD. In the statistical model Lp(a) interacted significantly with age (OR = 5.7; 95% CI: 1.4-23.6; P = 0.016), and high Lp(a) (over 45 mg/dl) was associated with significantly increased risk in subjects under 60 years (OR = 3.82; 95% CI: 1.47-9.96), but not in older men (OR = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.235-1.89). Therefore, we studied the impact of Lp(a)/apo(a) and other variables in subjects who had been under 60 years when they became cases. Among the younger subjects the presence of LMW apo(a) isoforms significantly predicted the development of CHD (OR = 3.83; 95% CI: 1.18-12.4). The increased risk pertained to high Lp(a) (above versus below 45 mg/dl: OR = 3.68; 95% CI: 1.03-13.10), and to Lp(a) concentrations when entered into the model as a continuous variable (P = 0.04). Cholesterol or apo B (P < 0.01), smoking (P = 0.02), systolic blood pressure (P = 0.05) and low alcohol consumption (under nine drinks/week) (P = 0.04) were also significant predictors of CHD. We conclude that LMW apo(a) isoforms are significantly associated with increased risk of CHD in men under 60 years.

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PubMed1997

[The influence of dietary factors on weight change estimated by the use of multivariate graphical models].

The aim of the present study was to analyse the influence of dietary factors on weight change in a multifactorial context by use of graphical models. A random sample of 2304 Danish men and women, aged 30, 40, 50, and 60 years, living in Copenhagen County underwent a general health examination, and their BMI was calculated. They all completed questionnaires regarding education, life conditions, life habits, and dietary intake at entry. At follow-up five years later BMI was also calculated. BMI at entry depended on family predisposition to obesity, and for women, on cohabitation as well. At follow-up five years later BMI in the male group was only related to former BMI, whereas in the female group it was influenced by parity as well: No association was found between total energy intake, percentage of energy from fat or from alcohol and weight changes. No influence of other putative determining factors was found for either gender. We conclude, that although the graphical model detected several relations between diet, habits, and social factors, no influence of dietary factors on weight changes were found by use of multifactorial graphical models.

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PubMed1997

A comparative study of factors related to carrying out physical activities of daily living (PADL) among 75-year-old-men and women in two Nordic localities.

The aim of this cross-sectional and cross-national study was to describe and compare the ability to carry out physical activities of daily living (PADL) and examine factors that might explain variation in this ability in two Nordic populations. Seven hundred and six men and women aged 75 from two populations (Glostrup, Denmark, and Jyväskylä, Finland) were interviewed and given a laboratory examination in 1989-90. The ability to carry out the PADL activities was studied by interview. Tests were given to determine depressive symptoms, cognitive capacity, and selected physical and sensory performance domains. Four different regression models (men and women in Jyväskylä and Glostrup) were used to analyze a number of variables describing physical and psychological health and performance related to the PADL. Knee extension strength and stair mounting height in three models (men and women in Jyväskylä and women in Glostrup), and walking speed in one model (men in Glostrup) emerged as explanatory factors on the basis of the physical performance tests done. Sight, except in the women in Glostrup, hearing in the men in Jyväskylä, and balance in the women in Glostrup also explained PADL functioning. In addition, symptoms of depression in the men in Glostrup, and symptoms of illness, except in the men in Jyväskylä, and cognitive capacity in the men in Jyväskylä emerged as explanatory factors in the regression models. There were, however, no major differences in the determinants of PADL functioning in the two Nordic populations of elderly people. Physical, psychological and sensory tests provide useful information, complementary to self-reports regarding declining PADL functional capacity.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1997

Ten year trends in the dietary habits of Danish men and women. Cohort and cross-sectional data.

OBJECTIVE: To describe 10 year trends and individual changes in food habits of Danish men and women in relation to dietary recommendations using data from both a cohort and a repeated cross-sectional study, and to examine whether the two sampling methods give similar results. DESIGN: Baseline data were collected in 1982-1984 and respectively repeated measurements for cohort and cross-sectional changes in food habits. SETTING: The County of Copenhagen, Denmark. SUBJECTS: Men and women aged 30-70y in 1982-1984, 1986-1988 and 1992-1994. The trend analyses included 3785 subjects for cohort and 7316 for cross-sectional study, respectively. Longitudinal changes were studied among 2430 individuals with food data from all three examinations. METHODS: Food intakes were estimated using a short food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: During the study period both men and women reported a decreased intake frequency of animal and vegetable fats, milk, eggs, meat products, white bread and potatoes, while they had increased intakes of low-fat margarine, fruit, raw vegetables, coarse breads, oatmeal, pasta, rice, cakes and candy. In both men and women the decrease in the consumption frequency of, white bread and potatoes, and the increase in pasta, and candy, were higher in the younger than in the older age group. In contrast, the increased consumption frequency of coarse breads, and oatmeal were most pronounced in the older age groups. For most foods the cohort and the repeated cross-sectional surveys gave similar results. CONCLUSIONS: From 1982 through 1994 the food habits of middle-aged Danish men and women changed in the direction of a more healthy diet as recommended by health authorities. With the limitation of a possible reporting bias both the cohort and repeated cross-sectional study designs may be used for monitoring changes in food intake.

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PubMed1997

What degree of medical treatment do nursing home residents want in case of life-threatening disease?

AIM: to examine the degree of medical treatment wanted by nursing home residents, their relatives and staff members should the resident develop a serious and life-threatening disease and to analyse the degree of agreement between the wishes of these parties. DESIGN: an epidemiological, descriptive cross-sectional study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: the study population consisted of 101 competent and 106 incompetent residents from 16 nursing homes; 142 relatives and 207 staff members were also interviewed. A hypothetical disease story was presented to residents, relatives and staff members and their choices classified into four groups according to degree of treatment. RESULTS: direct comparisons for the individual resident showed the greatest degree of disagreement whether to accept or refuse referral to hospital between relatives incompetent residents and staff members, in that the preference for curative treatment was significantly more frequent among the relatives. CONCLUSIONS: nursing home staff should try to discuss with relatives of incompetent residents their preferences for treatment in case the resident develops a serious disease before an acute situation arises.

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PubMed1997

Approaching cross-national comparisons of nursing home residents.

METHOD: since the 1990 implementation of the US nursing home Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI), researchers in other nations have begun to use the RAI to assess institutionalized elders for payment, research, or planning purposes. We report comparative statistics representing institutionalized residents in seven nations, describing from several hundred to hundreds of thousands of residents. RESULTS: significant differences are seen in age and length of stay, and in summary measures of physical and cognitive functioning and case-mix. Countries also differ in their homogeneity across nursing homes. CONCLUSION: these differences strengthen the position that 'nursing home' does not provide a sound basis for cross-national comparisons, and should be replaced with resident-specific descriptors. This also suggests that cross-national comparisons need to adjust at the level of the individual resident for differences in resident populations.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1997

Efforts to establish the reliability of the Resident Assessment Instrument.

BACKGROUND: since its original implementation in the USA, the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) has been used in many countries in languages other than English. This paper describes the efforts that have been made to test the inter-rater reliability of the core set of items forming the minimum data set items in the USA and in non-English speaking countries (Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Sweden and Switzerland). RESULTS: a large proportion (from 70 to 96%) of the items in the RAI achieved an adequate to excellent level of reliability, with no substantial differences across countries. The RAI met the standard for good reliability (i.e. a kappa value of 0.6 or higher) in crucial areas of functional status, such as memory, activities of daily living self-performance and support, and bowel and bladder continence in most of the countries. Indicators of mood and behavioural problems achieved adequate reliability levels of 0.4 or higher.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1997

An international study of social engagement among nursing home residents.

METHOD: data using the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) from nursing home populations in five countries (Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Japan, USA) were assembled from 396277 residents. The distribution of a new quality of life measure, 'social engagement', embedded in the RAI and found to be reliable and valid in the USA, was examined and compared in the international samples. RESULTS: in all five countries' nursing home populations engagement was highest among residents with adequate functioning in activities of daily living (ADL) and cognition, but the level of social engagement differed considerably by country among residents with poor ADL functioning, who had adequate cognition. The lowest scores were in Italy and Japan. The amount of time residents spend in activities stratified by ADL and cognition reveal the same pattern cross-culturally--cognitively impaired residents are least actively involved. CONCLUSIONS: the Minimum Data Set measure of social engagement is stable across types of residents and across nations and can serve as a marker of nursing home quality.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1997

Diet and mortality in a cohort of elderly people in a north European community.

BACKGROUND: In studies from Italy and Greece a Mediterranean dietary pattern predicts overall survival. Despite an increase in the movement of food around the world, there is still a wide spectrum of dietary patterns and the aim of the present study was to examine the association between a Mediterranean dietary pattern and mortality in a cohort of elderly people living in a North European Community. METHODS: Diet and nutritional status was studied among 202 men and women born 1914-1918 and living in a Danish Municipality (Roskilde) in 1988. They were followed for 6 years. RESULTS: A diet score, with seven dietary characteristics of the Mediterranean diet, was associated with a significant reduction in overall mortality. A one unit increase in the diet score predicted a 21% (95% confidence interval 2-36%) reduction in mortality. Subjects with high diet scores (> or = 4) had significantly higher plasma carotene levels than those with a low score and plasma carotene was negatively associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: A Mediterranean diet score predicts survival in a North European population. Plasma carotene may serve as an intermediate factor in this association.

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PubMed1997

Postural balance and self-reported functional ability in 75-year-old men and women: a cross-national comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: To study postural balance in relation to self-reported functional ability (mobility and ADL) and general physical activity in elderly men and women living in three different Nordic environments. PARTICIPANTS: A random sample of 448 men and 556 women from among the 75-year-old residents in Glostrup, Denmark, and Göteborg, Sweden, and all the residents of relevant age (127 men and 261 women) in Jyväskylä, Finland. MEASUREMENTS: Assessment of postural balance with eyes open and closed using a piezoelectric force platform. A structured interview on self-reported functional ability and physical activity. An in-laboratory medical examination. RESULTS: In spite of some differences in balance between the groups studied (better results in women compared with men and, to some extent, better results in the participants from Denmark and Finland than in those from Sweden), the performance in the balance tests was similarly associated with functional ability within all groups. The subjects reporting no need of help in performing the ADL and mobility functions performed significantly better in the balance tests. These differences were seen more clearly in the control of anteroposterior movement of center of forces than in the mediolateral direction. The performance in the balance tests was also significantly better among the subjects reporting a higher level of general physical activity than in their less active counterparts. Physical activity and than in their less active counterparts. Physical activity and certain long standing illnesses modified significantly the relationship between postural balance and ADL-performance. When these factors were analyzed simultaneously, the role of balance as a predictor of ADL-performance largely disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that good balance is one of the prerequisites of performance without difficulty in mobility and ADL functions. Physical exercise may help to maintain balancing abilities in old age; good balance, in turn, may also enable a physically active way of life. The associations of balance with functional ability and physical activity were independent of sex and locality. The results also support the validity of static stabilometry as a tool for evaluating threats to functional limitations in older subjects.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1996

[Life style and prevention of heart disease in Denmark. Changes in knowledge and behavior of the population from 1982 to 1992].

Changes during the period 1982 to 1992 in lifestyle and knowledge of risk factors for ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in Danish adults were assessed by comparing questionnaire data collected in two independent cross-sectional studies. In 1982 the participation rate was 79% among 4807 randomly selected men and women aged 30, 40, 50 and 60 years. In 1992 it was 73% among 2226 randomly selected men and women of similar ages. From 1982 to 1992 the proportion of participants stating that exercise, eating a low-fat diet, avoiding overweight and not smoking reduces the risk of IHD increased. During the same period, the proportion of smokers of men who did not eat vegetables daily, and of men and women who had butter, fat or margarine daily decreased. The changes were seen predominantly among salaried employees and those with a vocational education and social differences were enhanced. The changes in knowledge and lifestyle reflect the topics or which the general educational effort has focussed and are in accordance with results from comparable studies in the USA. Apparently, however, only in the higher social classes is the acquired knowledge associated with change of lifestyle.

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